Page 68 of His To Unravel
“Now, a kiss too?” he teases, his lips briefly brushing my temple.
I pull back just enough to see the mischievous gleam in his eyes. Rolling mine in mock exasperation, I stand on tiptoe and press a quick kiss to his lips. “Happy now?”
“Not quite,” he murmurs, a satisfied smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. as his eyes sweep over me with a look that sends a flutter straight through my chest.
“You look stunning,” he says, and it’s not casual. It lands with quiet conviction, like a verdict he’s already decided. “This outfit is not doing my self-control any favors.”
I glance down at myself, suddenly self-conscious beneath the weight of his gaze. I’m wearing a fitted black turtleneck tucked into high-waisted gray trousers, paired with a cream wool wrap coat cinched at the waist. Polished but comfortable. Understated, but clearly enough to earn that look from him.
His eyes linger a little a moment longer before flicking back to mine. “Everyone in that lecture hall’s going to remember every word you say, but trust me—they’ll remember how you looked while saying it too.”
My cheeks flush, but it’s not just from the cold. There’s something about the way he says it—low, earnest, a little hungry—that makes heat pool low in my belly.
I shake my head with a laugh, falling into step beside him as he leads me toward a wooden bench under a sprawling oak tree. He gestures for me to sit.
“For you,” he says, handing me one of the cups.
I take it gratefully, the warmth seeping into my hands. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
“I wanted to,” he replies simply, unpacking the paper bag to reveal two bagels. “I wasn’t sure what you’d want, so I got both a sweet one with peanut butter and jelly, and a savory one with lox and cream cheese. Your choice. Or we could share.” He grins. “Best of both worlds?”
My heart flutters at his thoughtfulness. “Sharing sounds perfect.”
His face lights up at that, and as he places the bagels with exaggerated care on napkins as if we’re dining at a five-star restaurant, I feel the warmth of his attentiveness spreading through me, seeping into the cracks of the walls I keep trying to reinforce.
While we eat in companionable silence, my mind drifts. Today is the day of our final presentation—the culmination of the project that brought us together. We’ve spent the past few days fine-tuning every aspect, making sure it’s perfect.
I can’t ignore the guilt that tugs at me during moments like this. I’ve been deliberately pulling away from him, needing space to steady myself against the tidal wave of emotion that comes with being near him. And yet, he never pushes.
Even when I turn down his offers to spend more time together, his patience never wavers. Each time I let him in, even briefly, his joy is so genuine it makes me question why I’m holding back at all.
“Are you nervous?” Nathaniel’s voice breaks through my thoughts.
I nod. “A little. After all this time, I still get nauseous before presentations.” I pause, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Although, it’s not as bad this time because I’m with you.”
His eyes soften as a smile breaks across his face, the kind that makes it impossible to look away. He slides an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer and kissing the side of my head.
“I’m glad,” he murmurs, his voice low and sincere. “That’s allI’ve been working toward—making sure you feel safe, that you know you can rely on me.”
I glance up at him, unsure how to respond, but he doesn’t seem to need an answer.
“Besides,” he continues, his tone lighter, “you have nothing to worry about. You’re brilliant, Olivia. The most intelligent person I’ve ever worked with at Halford. You’re going to impress everyone, just like you always impress me.”
His words send a flush of heat to my cheeks, and I duck my head, pretending to check my watch. “We should probably head to class,” I say, my voice a little too high-pitched.
He chuckles, standing and offering me his hand. “Lead the way, darling.”
I slip my hand into his, letting him pull me to my feet. As we walk side by side, I can’t help but wonder how much longer I can hold on to the space I’ve tried to create. With Nathaniel, it feels impossible not to fall.
I clutchthe edge of my folder, my fingers brushing over its smooth surface as I try to keep my breathing steady. Around me, students whisper final adjustments to their partners or cast wary glances toward the professor. Beside me, Nathaniel radiates his usual calm, his sharp suit and composed demeanor making it seem like he’s attending a business meeting rather than a classroom presentation.
I sneak a glance over my shoulder at Carolyn, seated a few rows back. She catches my eye, flashing me a warm smile that immediately soothes my nerves. “You got this,” she mouths, shooting me an exaggerated thumbs-up.
When our names are called, Nathaniel rises first, extending his hand to help me up. As we make our way to the front of theroom, my heart pounds, but the moment I glance at him—at the steadiness in his gaze—the nerves begin to dissipate. I’m not walking into this alone.
“Ready?” he asks quietly.
I nod, offering a faint smile.
